Thaesler-Garibaldi, M P (2005) A methodology to develop an integrated engineering system to estimate quantities for bridge repairs at the pre-design stage. PhD thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Abstract
A Damage Assessment Model, Construction Process Model and Parametric Quantity Model were developed with the purpose of capturing the engineering knowledge involved in the estimating process of bridge repair construction projects. The Damage Assessment Model was used to create a sample database in which detailed inspection data was stored in a format compatible with the existing Pontis™ database. Detailed inspection data, which provided quantitative values for the different damage types observed in bridges, could be retrieved from the sample database so that data could be used as either input parameters in the knowledge rules that triggered the selection of construction tasks in the Construction Process Model, or data could be used as variables in the equations used to estimate quantities in the Parametric Quantity Model. The Construction Process Model was used to incorporate the logic behind the construction process for different repair methods. The Construction Process Model was composed of seven repair matrices that defined specific repair methods for each Pontis™ bridge element. Construction tasks were grouped in construction modules that were modeled as flowcharts. Each construction module flowchart was composed of construction tasks arranged in sequential order and decision points that triggered the selection of construction tasks based on input parameters and knowledge rules. Input parameters were provided by the user, retrieved from the model or pre-defined in the model by expert knowledge. The construction modules developed involved construction tasks related to the repair of concrete bridge piles that were damaged due to reinforcement corrosion and related concrete deterioration. Data describing the construction tasks that were considered in the construction module flowcharts were modeled using the entity-relationship model and were stored in the sample database described previously. The Parametric Quantity Model combined data generated by the Damage Assessment Model and the Construction Process Model with additional expert knowledge and parameters into equations that were used to estimate quantities. The author investigated the use of neural networks as a tool to predict actual damage in bridge piles, conducted a preliminary survey to define labor productivity factors and collected data to define the duration of construction activities related to bridge repair.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Oberle, R and Kahn, L |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bridge; construction activities; corrosion; deterioration; duration; estimating; inspection; productivity; repairs |
| Index terms: | design stage, corrosion, construction project, construction process, methodology, estimating, repair, deterioration, survey, neural network, damage assessment, module, reinforcement, concrete bridge, labour productivity factor, estimate, duration, inspection, database, productivity, construction activity |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, building materials, financial and cost management, material degradation and durability, artificial intelligence, management, project controls, data management, infrastructure and transport systems, professional practice, construction operations, research methods, maintenance engineering, architectural elements, structural engineering, production management, building construction, quality assurance |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Digital Applications, Site Management, Time Control, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Construction Materials, Quality Management, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here